National College Football Champions
![Updated by an Factmonster Editor on February 21, 2017](/themes/ip/images/info-circle.png)
Prior to 1998, the National Collegiate Athletic Association recognized as unofficial champion the team selected each year by press association polls of writers and coaches. After 1998, the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) was implemented to determine the NCAA champs, using polls, computer rankings, schedule, record, and quality win factors. Changes made in the 2004 season narrowed down the process, with the system employing the AP media poll, the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll, and a computer average. Continuing the format started in the 2006 football season (2007 bowl season), the four BCS bowls (Rose, Sugar, Fiesta, and Orange) will be held Jan. 1–3 and the championship game will take place in New Orleans on Jan. 8, 2008. Florida beat Ohio State 41–14 in the Jan. 8, 2007 BCS Bowl Championship in Glendale, Ariz.
1936 | Minnesota |
1937 | Pittsburgh |
1938 | Texas Christian |
1939 | Texas A & M |
1940 | Minnesota |
1941 | Minnesota |
1942 | Ohio State |
1943 | Notre Dame |
1944 | Army |
1945 | Army |
1946 | Notre Dame |
1947 | Notre Dame |
1948 | Michigan |
1949 | Notre Dame |
1950 | Oklahoma |
1951 | Tennessee |
1952 | Mich. State |
1953 | Maryland |
1954 | Ohio State and UCLA |
1955 | Oklahoma |
1956 | Oklahoma |
1957 | Auburn and Ohio State |
1958 | Louisiana State |
1959 | Syracuse |
1960 | Minnesota |
1961 | Alabama |
1962 | So. Calif. |
1963 | Texas |
1964 | Alabama |
1965 | Alabama and Mich. State |
1966 | Notre Dame |
1967 | So. Calif. |
1968 | Ohio State |
1969 | Texas |
1970 | Texas and Nebraska |
1971 | Nebraska |
1972 | So. Calif. |
1973 | Notre Dame and U. of Ala. |
1974 | Oklahoma and So. Calif. |
1975 | Oklahoma |
1976 | Pittsburgh |
1977 | Notre Dame |
1978 | Alabama and So. Calif. |
1979 | Alabama |
1980 | Georgia |
1981 | Clemson |
1982 | Penn State |
1983 | Miami (Fla.) |
1984 | Brigham Young |
1985 | Oklahoma |
1986 | Penn State |
1987 | Miami (Fla.) |
1988 | Notre Dame |
1989 | Miami (Fla.) |
1990 | Colorado and Georgia Tech |
1991 | Miami (Fla.) and Washington |
1992 | Alabama |
1993 | Florida State |
1994 | Nebraska |
1995 | Nebraska |
1996 | Univ. of Florida |
1997 | Michigan and Nebraska |
1998 | Tennessee |
1999 | Florida State |
2000 | Oklahoma |
2001 | Miami (Fla.) |
2002 | Ohio State |
2003 | Louisiana State and So. Calif.1 |
2004 | So. Calif. |
2005 | Texas |
2006 | Florida |